WASHINGTON – As the game stretched past one overtime and deep into a second, the Maple Leafs' fourth line largely watched the drama unfold.

In the fourth period's first 10 minutes, they had three shifts. In the next 10, they had two. And when Game 2 of their series with the Capitals hit double overtime, and teammates Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly kept going over the bench again and again until they hit more than 40 minutes played, they waited for a chance.

Brian Boyle, a veteran of more NHL playoff games than anyone leaguewide since 2011, could feel the game shifting, as it went past the 80-minute mark. He realized he and linemates Matt Martin and rookie Kasperi Kapanen were fresher than anyone they were up against, able to push the pace in the rare opportunities they were getting on the ice.

They had played less than five minutes through more than 31 minutes of overtime. But Boyle knew that might pay off.

“We could see the...

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